Feb. 26, 2009
BLACKSBURG, Va. – It was not easy but the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team earned its 20th win for the third straight season with a 73-68 overtime victory over Virginia Tech (12-17, 2-12 ACC) Thursday night at Cassell Coliseum.
The Yellow Jackets (20-8, 7-6), who were playing without Alex Montgomery and Iasia Hemingway after both players fouled out late in the second half, were led by Jacqua Williams. The senior guard scored five of her team-high 19 points in overtime. Williams went 8-12 from the free-throw line in the game and registered four steals.
“I was really pleased with my team’s execution in overtime, even with two of our top scorers fouling out,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. ” Jacqua was huge for us tonight. I was really proud of my team’s effort but my two upperclassmen really led the way for us. They came up with some big plays in critical situations.”
This is the first time in Georgia Tech women’s basketball history that the team has won at least 20 games in three straight seasons and only the fifth time ever the program has hit the 20-win plateau.
Montgomery scored 13 points and grabbed seven boards for the Jackets before fouling out with 2:05 remaining in the second half. Hemingway, who fouled out with 24 second remaining in regulation, finished with 15 points and six steals.
The Hokies, who were down by nine at the half, fought all the way back after the break. They cut the Yellow Jacket lead to two before tying the game with a pair of free throws from Shanel Harrison with 24 seconds remaining in the regulation. The Jackets had a chance to win the game but missed a pair of jumpers in the paint.
Virginia Tech’s Utahya Drye led all scorers with 24 points and Harrison finished with 17 points off the bench.
The Yellow Jackets will return home Sunday for their regular-season finale against Virginia at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on the Atlantic Coast Conference Regional Network (Fox Sports South in Atlanta).
– RamblinWreck.com –
